Research Article
Year 2025,
Volume: 8 Issue: 4, 651 - 663
Abstract
References
- N. Manshouri, M. Melek, and T. Kayıkcıoğlu, "Detection of 2D and 3D video transitions based on EEG power," The Computer Journal, vol. 65, no. 2, pp. 396–409, 2022.
- N. Manshouri, M. Maleki, and T. Kayıkcıoğlu, "An EEG-based stereoscopic research of the PSD differences in pre and post 2D&3D movies watching," Biomedical Signal Processing and Control, vol. 55, p. 101642, 2020.
- M. Melek, N. Manshouri, and T. Kayıkcıoğlu, "An automatic EEG-based sleep staging system with introducing NAoSP and NAoGP as new metrics for sleep staging systems," Cognitive Neurodynamics, vol. 15, pp. 405–423, 2021.
- J. Lagopoulos et al., "Increased Theta and Alpha EEG Activity During Nondirective Meditation," The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, vol. 15, no. 11, pp. 1187–1192, Nov. 2009, doi: 10.1089/acm.2009.0113.
- B. Kalyani et al., "Neurohemodynamic correlates of ‘OM’ chanting: A pilot functional magnetic resonance imaging study," International Journal of Yoga, vol. 4, no. 1, p. 3, 2011, doi: 10.4103/0973-6131.78171.
- M. Kuppusamy, S. Silambanan, G. Thangavel, N. J. Wilson, L. Sekhar, and P. Ramaswamy, "Effect of Mahamantra Chanting on Autonomic and Cognitive Functions- An Interventional Study," Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 5–9, 2020.
- I. Das and H. Anand, "Effect of Prayer and 'OM' Meditation in Enhancing Galvanic Skin Response," Psychological Thought, vol. 5, no. 2, Oct. 2012, doi: 10.5964/psyct.v5i2.18.
- B. P. Harne and A. S. Hiwale, "EEG Spectral Analysis on OM Mantra Meditation: A Pilot Study," Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 123–129, Jun. 2018, doi: 10.1007/s10484-018-9391-7.
- B. P. Harne, A. A. Tahseen, A. S. Hiwale, and R. S. Dhekekar, "Survey on Om meditation: Its effects on the human body and Om meditation as a tool for stress management," Psychological Thought, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 1–11, Apr. 2019, doi: 10.5964/psyct.v12i1.275.
- M. Saini, A. Gurjar, S. P. Muthukrishnan, S. Kaur, R. Sharma, and P. T. Tayade, "Global Effect on Cortical Activity in Young Indian Males in Response to 'OM' Chanting: A High-Density Quantitative Electro-Encephalography Study," Annals of Neurosciences, vol. 31, no. 3, pp. 176–185, Jul. 2024, doi: 10.1177/09727531231183219.
- Z. Zhang, Y. Peng, and T. Chen, "Om chanting modulates the processing of negative stimuli: Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence," Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 13, Oct. 2022, doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.943243.
- S. Czajko, J. Zorn, L. Daumail, G. Chetelat, D. S. Margulies, and A. Lutz, "Exploring the Embodied Mind: Functional Connectome Fingerprinting of Meditation Expertise," Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science, vol. 4, no. 6, p. 100372, Nov. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100372.
- B. T. Rutjens, N. Zarzeczna, and R. van der Lee, "Science rejection in Greece: Spirituality predicts vaccine scepticism and low faith in science in a Greek sample," Public Understanding of Science, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 428–436, May 2022, doi: 10.1177/09636625211061520.
- Y. Y. Raghav and S. Gulia, "The Rise of Artificial Intelligence and Its Implications on Spirituality," in Investigating the Impact of AI on Ethics and Spirituality, 2023, pp. 165–178, doi: 10.4018/978-1-6684-9196-6.ch011.
- T. Bayan and N. Deb, "Effect of Mantra Chanting on Power Spectral Density," Indian Journal of Science and Technology, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 95–101, Jan. 2025, doi: 10.17485/IJST/v18i2.3780.
- J. J. Knabb and V. E. Vazquez, "Decentering Mindfulness: Toward Greater Meditative Diversity in Global Public Health," Mindfulness (New York), Aug. 2023, doi: 10.1007/s12671-023-02203-7.
- J. Kruk and B. H. Aboul-Enein, "Religion- and Spirituality-Based Effects on Health-Related Components with Special Reference to Physical Activity: A Systematic Review," Religions (Basel), vol. 15, no. 7, p. 835, Jul. 2024, doi: 10.3390/rel15070835.
- G. Perry, V. Polito, and W. F. Thompson, "Exploring the Physiological and Psychological Effects of Group Chanting in Australia: Reduced Stress, Cortisol and Enhanced Social Connection," Journal of Religion and Health, vol. 63, no. 6, pp. 4793–4815, Dec. 2024, doi: 10.1007/s10943-023-01967-5.
- F. Zhou and J. Mou, "Does social media usage evoke employees’ spirituality? A cross-level moderation model of inclusive leadership," Information Technology & People, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 1383–1409, Jun. 2022, doi: 10.1108/ITP-04-2020-0182.
- H. Knegtering, R. Bruggeman, and S. K. Spoelstra, "Spirituality as a Therapeutic Approach for Severe Mental Illness: Insights from Neural Networks," Religions (Basel), vol. 15, no. 4, p. 489, Apr. 2024, doi: 10.3390/rel15040489.
- V. Giannouli and K. Giannoulis, "Gazing at Medusa: Alzheimer’s dementia through the lenses of spirituality and religion," Health Psychology Research, vol. 8, no. 1, May 2020, doi: 10.4081/hpr.2020.8833.
- I. Lazarou et al., "Eliciting brain waves of people with cognitive impairment during meditation exercises using portable electroencephalography in a smart-home environment: a pilot study," Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, vol. 15, May 2023, doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1167410.
- T. Kayikcioglu, M. Maleki, and K. Eroglu, "Fast and accurate PLS-based classification of EEG sleep using single channel data," Expert Systems with Applications, vol. 42, no. 21, pp. 7825–7830, 2015.
- M. Maleki, N. Manshouri, and T. Kayıkçioğlu, "Fast and accurate classifier-based brain-computer interface system using single channel EEG data," in 2018 26th Signal Processing and Communications Applications Conference (SIU), Izmir, Turkey, pp. 1–4, 2018.
- J. S. Kumar and P. Bhuvaneswari, "Analysis of Electroencephalography (EEG) Signals and Its Categorization–A Study," Procedia Engineering, vol. 38, pp. 2525–2536, 2012, doi: 10.1016/j.proeng.2012.06.298.
Year 2025,
Volume: 8 Issue: 4, 651 - 663
Abstract
In Hindu tradition, the syllable "OM" holds significant spiritual and cultural value in Hindu tradition and is believed to produce positive psychological and physiological effects. Despite its prominence in spiritual practices, the neurophysiological basis for these benefits remains underexplored. In this study, electroencephalography (EEG), a non-invasive method for measuring electrical activity in the cerebral cortex, was employed to investigate the physical changes in brain wave patterns that occur when listening to OM chanting. Five frequency bands, namely delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma, are associated with brainwaves recorded through EEG, which define different states of cognitive and emotional nature. With these, this research analyzes EEG signals before and after chanting to identify and quantify changes, and to discuss the therapeutic implications. Several signal processing techniques, such as time and frequency domain analysis, assess variations in amplitude, frequency, and coherence across different brain regions. These findings show an increase in alpha amplitudes (34.2%) and an 85.4% improvement in the theta/beta ratio, related to relaxation, emotional regulation, and additional focus, as well as a decrease in beta waves, linked to stress and cognitive overload. This would show stronger neural integration between the brain hemispheres. The OM chanting evoked these results as a possible neurotherapeutic tool for stress management and cognitive enhancement. In bridging ancient spiritual practices with modern neuroscience, this study provides information on how such seemingly nonsensical meditations as OM chanting can enhance brain function, which is favorable for the third Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of the United Nations, regarding the goal of healthy life and wellbeing throughout all ages. Further research should be done into these effects in different populations and over long periods to confirm that this is a long-term therapeutic effect.
References
- N. Manshouri, M. Melek, and T. Kayıkcıoğlu, "Detection of 2D and 3D video transitions based on EEG power," The Computer Journal, vol. 65, no. 2, pp. 396–409, 2022.
- N. Manshouri, M. Maleki, and T. Kayıkcıoğlu, "An EEG-based stereoscopic research of the PSD differences in pre and post 2D&3D movies watching," Biomedical Signal Processing and Control, vol. 55, p. 101642, 2020.
- M. Melek, N. Manshouri, and T. Kayıkcıoğlu, "An automatic EEG-based sleep staging system with introducing NAoSP and NAoGP as new metrics for sleep staging systems," Cognitive Neurodynamics, vol. 15, pp. 405–423, 2021.
- J. Lagopoulos et al., "Increased Theta and Alpha EEG Activity During Nondirective Meditation," The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, vol. 15, no. 11, pp. 1187–1192, Nov. 2009, doi: 10.1089/acm.2009.0113.
- B. Kalyani et al., "Neurohemodynamic correlates of ‘OM’ chanting: A pilot functional magnetic resonance imaging study," International Journal of Yoga, vol. 4, no. 1, p. 3, 2011, doi: 10.4103/0973-6131.78171.
- M. Kuppusamy, S. Silambanan, G. Thangavel, N. J. Wilson, L. Sekhar, and P. Ramaswamy, "Effect of Mahamantra Chanting on Autonomic and Cognitive Functions- An Interventional Study," Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 5–9, 2020.
- I. Das and H. Anand, "Effect of Prayer and 'OM' Meditation in Enhancing Galvanic Skin Response," Psychological Thought, vol. 5, no. 2, Oct. 2012, doi: 10.5964/psyct.v5i2.18.
- B. P. Harne and A. S. Hiwale, "EEG Spectral Analysis on OM Mantra Meditation: A Pilot Study," Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 123–129, Jun. 2018, doi: 10.1007/s10484-018-9391-7.
- B. P. Harne, A. A. Tahseen, A. S. Hiwale, and R. S. Dhekekar, "Survey on Om meditation: Its effects on the human body and Om meditation as a tool for stress management," Psychological Thought, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 1–11, Apr. 2019, doi: 10.5964/psyct.v12i1.275.
- M. Saini, A. Gurjar, S. P. Muthukrishnan, S. Kaur, R. Sharma, and P. T. Tayade, "Global Effect on Cortical Activity in Young Indian Males in Response to 'OM' Chanting: A High-Density Quantitative Electro-Encephalography Study," Annals of Neurosciences, vol. 31, no. 3, pp. 176–185, Jul. 2024, doi: 10.1177/09727531231183219.
- Z. Zhang, Y. Peng, and T. Chen, "Om chanting modulates the processing of negative stimuli: Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence," Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 13, Oct. 2022, doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.943243.
- S. Czajko, J. Zorn, L. Daumail, G. Chetelat, D. S. Margulies, and A. Lutz, "Exploring the Embodied Mind: Functional Connectome Fingerprinting of Meditation Expertise," Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science, vol. 4, no. 6, p. 100372, Nov. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100372.
- B. T. Rutjens, N. Zarzeczna, and R. van der Lee, "Science rejection in Greece: Spirituality predicts vaccine scepticism and low faith in science in a Greek sample," Public Understanding of Science, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 428–436, May 2022, doi: 10.1177/09636625211061520.
- Y. Y. Raghav and S. Gulia, "The Rise of Artificial Intelligence and Its Implications on Spirituality," in Investigating the Impact of AI on Ethics and Spirituality, 2023, pp. 165–178, doi: 10.4018/978-1-6684-9196-6.ch011.
- T. Bayan and N. Deb, "Effect of Mantra Chanting on Power Spectral Density," Indian Journal of Science and Technology, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 95–101, Jan. 2025, doi: 10.17485/IJST/v18i2.3780.
- J. J. Knabb and V. E. Vazquez, "Decentering Mindfulness: Toward Greater Meditative Diversity in Global Public Health," Mindfulness (New York), Aug. 2023, doi: 10.1007/s12671-023-02203-7.
- J. Kruk and B. H. Aboul-Enein, "Religion- and Spirituality-Based Effects on Health-Related Components with Special Reference to Physical Activity: A Systematic Review," Religions (Basel), vol. 15, no. 7, p. 835, Jul. 2024, doi: 10.3390/rel15070835.
- G. Perry, V. Polito, and W. F. Thompson, "Exploring the Physiological and Psychological Effects of Group Chanting in Australia: Reduced Stress, Cortisol and Enhanced Social Connection," Journal of Religion and Health, vol. 63, no. 6, pp. 4793–4815, Dec. 2024, doi: 10.1007/s10943-023-01967-5.
- F. Zhou and J. Mou, "Does social media usage evoke employees’ spirituality? A cross-level moderation model of inclusive leadership," Information Technology & People, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 1383–1409, Jun. 2022, doi: 10.1108/ITP-04-2020-0182.
- H. Knegtering, R. Bruggeman, and S. K. Spoelstra, "Spirituality as a Therapeutic Approach for Severe Mental Illness: Insights from Neural Networks," Religions (Basel), vol. 15, no. 4, p. 489, Apr. 2024, doi: 10.3390/rel15040489.
- V. Giannouli and K. Giannoulis, "Gazing at Medusa: Alzheimer’s dementia through the lenses of spirituality and religion," Health Psychology Research, vol. 8, no. 1, May 2020, doi: 10.4081/hpr.2020.8833.
- I. Lazarou et al., "Eliciting brain waves of people with cognitive impairment during meditation exercises using portable electroencephalography in a smart-home environment: a pilot study," Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, vol. 15, May 2023, doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1167410.
- T. Kayikcioglu, M. Maleki, and K. Eroglu, "Fast and accurate PLS-based classification of EEG sleep using single channel data," Expert Systems with Applications, vol. 42, no. 21, pp. 7825–7830, 2015.
- M. Maleki, N. Manshouri, and T. Kayıkçioğlu, "Fast and accurate classifier-based brain-computer interface system using single channel EEG data," in 2018 26th Signal Processing and Communications Applications Conference (SIU), Izmir, Turkey, pp. 1–4, 2018.
- J. S. Kumar and P. Bhuvaneswari, "Analysis of Electroencephalography (EEG) Signals and Its Categorization–A Study," Procedia Engineering, vol. 38, pp. 2525–2536, 2012, doi: 10.1016/j.proeng.2012.06.298.
There are 25 citations in total.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Computer Software |
| Journal Section | Research Article |
| Authors | |
| Early Pub Date | October 13, 2025 |
| Publication Date | October 16, 2025 |
| Submission Date | May 6, 2025 |
| Acceptance Date | July 27, 2025 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2025 Volume: 8 Issue: 4 |
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